Money Is to Purse as Tobacco Is to: The Ultimate Guide to This Classic Analogy (2025 Edition)

Money is to purse as tobacco is to pouch: Complete 2025 guide to this classic analogy question, with answer explanations, exam tips, variations, and practice methods

Have you ever stumbled upon the analogy "money is to purse as tobacco is to" in a verbal reasoning test, puzzle book, or exam prep material? This seemingly simple word relationship question has puzzled students and test-takers for decades, often appearing in competitive exams like SSC, banking tests, or IQ assessments. In this exhaustive 2025 guide, we'll break down the correct answer, explore every possible interpretation, and dive deep into how analogies work—making this the definitive resource for anyone searching "money is to purse as tobacco is to."

Understanding Analogies: The Foundation of Word Relationships

Analogies test your ability to identify logical connections between pairs of words. They follow the format "A is to B as C is to D," where the relationship between A and B mirrors that between C and D.

Common relationship types include:

In "money is to purse as tobacco is to," the dominant relationship is container-contained or item stored in holder. Money (the item) is typically kept or carried in a purse (the container). The same logic applies to the second pair.

This type of analogy falls under "object and its customary holder," a frequent category in verbal ability sections. For more on analogy types, visit the official Cambridge Dictionary's guide to analogies.

The Correct Answer: Money Is to Purse as Tobacco Is to Pouch

The most widely accepted and logical completion is pouch.

Money is stored/carried in a purse.

Tobacco (especially loose or chewing tobacco) is stored/carried in a pouch.

This answer appears consistently across educational platforms:

Reason: We keep money in a purse and tobacco in a pouch.
It's direct, culturally neutral, and fits the "contained in container" pattern perfectly.

In exam contexts like India's government job tests, "pouch" scores full marks because it's concise and precise. See detailed explanations on sites like Testbook's analogy questions or English learning resources.

Alternative Answers and Why They Might Appear

While "pouch" is the gold standard, variations exist depending on context, region, or tobacco form.

1. Pipe (Functional Relationship)

Some argue: Money is used via a purse; tobacco is used via a pipe.

Tobacco is packed into and smoked from a pipe.
This shifts to "item and its primary tool/user."
Common in older riddle books but less fitting for "is to" containment.

2. Tin or Can (Storage Container)

Loose tobacco is often sold and stored in metal tins.

Brands like Prince Albert came in "pocket tins."
Historical U.S. context (early 20th century) makes this plausible.
See Britannica's history of tobacco packaging.

3. Packet/Pack (Modern Packaged Tobacco)

In many countries, tobacco comes in packets or pouches labeled as "packs."

Roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco uses "tobacco packets."
Cigarettes (made from tobacco) come in packs—but the analogy specifies "tobacco," not cigarettes.

4. Snuffbox (For Snuff Tobacco)

Historical: Finely ground snuff tobacco was kept in decorative snuffboxes.

Popular in 18th-19th century Europe.
Rare in modern tests.

Imagine an infographic here: A comparison table of answers by region/exam type—pouch dominates in Asia/Africa exams, tin in Western historical contexts.

Historical and Cultural Context of the Analogy

This analogy dates back to at least the mid-20th century in English-language puzzle books.

In colonial-era India and Commonwealth countries, "tobacco pouch" was everyday vocabulary—soldiers and civilians carried leather pouches.
Post-2000, with rising anti-tobacco awareness, the analogy became controversial (see WHO guidelines below).
In 2025, it's still used in exams but often replaced with neutral pairs due to health concerns.

The World Health Organization (WHO Tobacco Free Initiative) notes tobacco kills over 8 million annually—perhaps why modern tests avoid tobacco references.

How This Analogy Appears in Real Exams (With Examples)

Thousands search this yearly during exam season. Here's where it shows up:

SSC CGL/CHSL verbal reasoning
Banking exams (IBPS, SBI PO)
GRE/GMAT legacy verbal sections
Nigerian WAEC/JAMB English

Sample similar questions:

Bird : Nest :: Bee : ?
Glove : Hand :: Sock : ?

Practice more at IndiaBIX analogy section.

Step-by-Step Method to Solve Any Analogy Question

Master this technique for 100% accuracy:

Identify the relationship in the first pair.
Apply the exact same relationship to the second item.
Eliminate options that don't fit perfectly.
Consider cultural/contextual nuances.
Choose the most direct, common-sense link.

Example walkthrough for our analogy:

Relationship: Item habitually contained in holder
Money → Purse (container)
Tobacco → ? (must be its common container)
Options: Pipe (tool), Cigarette (product), Pouch (container) → Pouch wins

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Confusing form: Thinking "tobacco" means cigarettes (then "pack")
Overcomplicating: Functional vs. containment
Regional bias: "Purse" means handbag in UK, wallet in US—same for tobacco containers

Pro tip: In timed tests, go with the simplest containment answer.

Modern Relevance in 2025: Why This Analogy Persists (and Evolves)

Despite tobacco's declining use (global smoking rates down 30% since 2000 per WHO), the analogy endures in legacy question banks.

Newer exams replace it with:

Data : Pendrive ::
Photos : Album ::

But for millions preparing via old papers, this remains a staple search.

Variations Across Languages and Cultures

Hindi medium: "पैसे का संबंध पर्स से वैसे ही है जैसे तंबाकू का संबंध _____ से"
Answer: थैली (pouch/bag)
French: Argent : Portemonnaie :: Tabac : Blague à tabac (tobacco pouch)

This universality makes it a great cross-cultural reasoning tool.

In conclusion, whether you're facing an exam tomorrow or just love word puzzles, remember: money is to purse as tobacco is to pouch. This classic "money is to purse as tobacco is to" analogy teaches us about precise relationships—and the power of simple, logical thinking.

Master analogies like this, and you'll ace any verbal section. What's your favorite tricky analogy? Drop it in the comments—I’ll solve it live! Share this guide with friends prepping for exams, and subscribe for weekly reasoning tips, free mock tests, and more 2025 exam resources. Your perfect score starts here—let's crush those tests together!